Combiantion scaffold and stepladder



July 19,1927. 1,536,085

H. WITTEK: COMBINATION SCAFFOLD AND swsp LADDER Filed July 15. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 19,1927; 1,636,085 I -H WITTEK COMBINATION SOAFFOLD AND STE}; LADDER Filed y 1 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 y 3 w 5 7 A 7' 2,

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mi. 2 5 Z i 22101" 'Zfermm [/2722 k may Patented July 19, 1927.

HERMANN WITTEK, OF ITZEHOE-SUDE, HOLSTEIN, GERMANY,

STOCK, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

ASSI GNOR TO PAULINE COMBINATION SCAFFOLD AND S'IEPLADDER.

Application filed iuly 15, 1926, Serial 1T0. 122,579, and in Germany Iu1y22, 1925.

This invention relates to a combination ladder and scaffold and has as. its main object the provision of a structure whichmay be conveniently and quickly adjusted to either scaffold or step-ladder form, the arrangement being such that a light, simple and effective structure is affordechwvhich preferably may be folded into a compactform when not in use.

consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are cf.-

5 fected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more v particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the said drawings- 1 Figure 1 is a view of a ladder scaffold embodying my invention and showing the same in its scaffold form; V

Figure 2 is a view of the device showing it in its step-ladder form; f

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device showing it in its scaffold form;

Figure 1 is a partial section. on the line el4t of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section onv the line of Figure 3; v

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the portion of the device shown in Figure 5.

Like characters of referenceindicate like parts in the several views.

ladder element of usual construction, two of which are employed. A platform is provided. and comprises two platform sections 2 which are pivotally secured together by hinges 3 and which are also pivotally secured to the upper rungsof respective ladder elements 1 by means of hinges 4, the arrangement being such that the platform sec tions fold downwardly,as shown in Figure 2, from alined horizontal positions, as shown in Figure 1.

Duplicate pairs of bracing members 5 are disposed at respective sides of the ladder elements and have ends thereof pivotallysecured in a usual manner, as designated at 6, to the adjacent side membersof respective ladder elements. The other ends of each pair of bracing members 5 are pivotally secured together so that each pair of braces may fold upwardly as shown. The. pivot joints With this object in view my invention Referring to the drawings 1 designates a b i which each pair of bracing members 5 are. pivotally secured together are constructed as follows. See Figures 5. and 6. The adjacent ends of the bracing members 5 are of enlarged disk form, as designated at 7, and rivets 8 pass through the centers of re-. spective pairs of these enlarged disk port ons 7 to form these pivot joints. Additional duplicate pairs of bracing members 9 are provided, and each of these pairs of bracing members is pivotally secured together in a usual manner, as designated at 1.0, and are pivotally secured with respective of respective pairs of bracing members 5 intermediate the ends thereof in a usual manner, as designated at 11.

VVhen the ladder sections 1 are folded together or are disposed in step-ladder form as shown in Figure 2, the bracing members 5 fold upwardly and the bracing members 9 fold with the members 5 downwardly.

When the device is in scaffold form the bracing members 9 of each pair thereof are aligned and serve as tension braces to limit pivotal movement of the bracing members 5 to prevent spreading thereof.

Means is provided, associated with the pivot joints between the bracing members 5 of each pair thereof, for releasablysecuring the bracing members 5 with the platform sections2 intermediate the ladder sections 1 and, as shown, consists of the following, Secured on the undersides of respective plat form sections 2 at opposite sides thereof and adjacent and extending across the adjoining ends of the platform sections to prevent npward folding of the platform sections are brackets 12. Handscrews 13 extend. through apertures in'the enlarged ends 7 of respective pairs of bracing members 5, which apertures register, when the bracing members 5 are in their scaffold positions, as shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6, and are screwthreaded into transverse bores in respective brackets 12 for supporting the platform sec tions 2 intermediate the ladder elements 1. when the device is in scaffold form.

When it is desired either to fold up the device or to change it to ladder form the. screws 13 are removed and the bracing members 5 and 9 are folded. i r

V Cooperating hooks and eyes of usual form, respectively designated at 14: and 15., are mounted on respective side members of respective ladder elements 1 adjacent the upper ends thereof and serve for releasably securing the ladder elements in step-ladder form, as shown in Figure 2.

It will be observed that the device is easily changed to and from folded form, stepladder form and scaffold form, that it does not require an unduly heavy construction, and that in either step-ladder or scaffold form it is well adapted to serve the intended purposes and adequately withstand the strains incident to usage.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentthe following:-

1. In a device of the character described the combination of two ladder elements. a platform comprising two sections pivotally secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at upwardly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted to fold downwardly therefrom, and folding bracing means pi'votally secured with said ladder elements at downwz-zrdly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted for releasably maintaining said platform sections and ladder elements in the form of a scaffold.

v 2. In a device of the character described the combination of two ladder elements, a

platform comprising two sections pivotallv ing said platform sections and ladder ele ments in the form of a scaffold 3. In a device of the character described the combination of two ladder elements, a platform comprising tworsections pivotall secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at corresponding upwardly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted to fold downwardly therefrom, bracing members pivota-lly secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at corresponding.

downwardly disposed points 011 the ladder elements and adapted to fold upwardly therefrom, means associated with the pivot do not wish to be limited point between said bracing members for re leasably securing said bracing elements with said platform sections intermediate said ladder elements when saidplatform sections and ladder elements are" in scaffold form, and additional bracing members pivotally secured together and pivotally secured with said first mentioned bracing members below said :pivotjoint thereof and foldable therewith.

Al. In a device of the character-described the combination of two ladder elements, a platform comprising two sections pivotally secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at upwardly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted to fold downwardly therefrom, duplicate folding bracing means at respective sides of said ladder elements and pivotally secured with said ladder elements at downwardly disposed points on the ladder elements, releasable means for securing said bracing means with said platform sections at respective sides thereof to maintain said ladder elements and platform sections in scaffold form, and releasable means for socuring said ladder elements in step-ladder form with said platform sections and bracing means folded.

In a device of the character described the combination of two ladder elements. a platform com arising two sections pivotally secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at cmresponding upwardly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted to fold dmvnward'ly therefrom, duplicate pairs of bracing members at respective sides of said ladder elements each pair of which is pivotally secured together and pivotally secured with respective ladder elements at corresp'onding downwardly disposed points on the ladder elements and adapted to fold upwardly therefrom, means associated with the pivot joints between respective pairs of said bracing members for releasably securing said bracing members to said platform sections at respective Sit thereof to maintain said ladder elements and platform sections in scaffold form; additional duplicate pairs of bracing members each pair of which is pirotally se cured together and pivotally secured with respective of a respective pair of said first mentioned bracing'elements below said pivot joints thereof and foldable therewith, and re leasable means adjacent the upper ends of said ladder elements for securing said ladder elements in step-ladder form with said platform sections and bracing members folded.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature this first day of July, 1926- HERMANN WITTEK. 

